I recieved this from my wife this morning and I thought it was fantastic, so I thought I'd share it with you.
Colin Powell's Narrative
The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.
As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are... Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.
Consider this:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who’s not going anywhere...
With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."
The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad.
Note: Be not mistaken. This is applicable to family as well as friends. Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what. Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.
"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us. In Adversity We Know Our friends."
"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them."
"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in
little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.”
Colin Powell
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Stepping into the Next Level in God: Step 2
2. Visualization
a. Definition
vis⋅u⋅al⋅ize
–verb (used without object)
1. to recall or form mental images or pictures.
–verb (used with object)
2. to make visual or visible.
3. to form a mental image of.
4. to make perceptible to the mind or imagination.
Images are very powerful to the human mind. When God wanted to cause Abram to partnership with Him in His plan to redeem all mankind through his seed, He used imagery. Gen. 13:14-17; Gen. 15:5-6.
If we are to move to the next level in God we must develop a mental picture of ourselves operating at that level.
A. Discontent with present status: Once you have have really received a mental image of yourself operating at that next level, you will become discontent with your present level. It's like test driving that dream car you want so much, then going back to your present ride in the parking lot. Your car never looked so bad.
B. A Determined will: That process will help you to develop "a determined will" to move forward no matter what the cost.
a. Definition
vis⋅u⋅al⋅ize
–verb (used without object)
1. to recall or form mental images or pictures.
–verb (used with object)
2. to make visual or visible.
3. to form a mental image of.
4. to make perceptible to the mind or imagination.
Images are very powerful to the human mind. When God wanted to cause Abram to partnership with Him in His plan to redeem all mankind through his seed, He used imagery. Gen. 13:14-17; Gen. 15:5-6.
If we are to move to the next level in God we must develop a mental picture of ourselves operating at that level.
A. Discontent with present status: Once you have have really received a mental image of yourself operating at that next level, you will become discontent with your present level. It's like test driving that dream car you want so much, then going back to your present ride in the parking lot. Your car never looked so bad.
B. A Determined will: That process will help you to develop "a determined will" to move forward no matter what the cost.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Monday, February 01, 2010
Stepping into the Next Level in God
I believe there are 4 steps to The Next Level in God that we desire. These steps are:
1. Evaluation
2. Visualization
3. Progression
4. Manifestation
Let me explain or describe the first step here:
1. Evaluation
On this step we need to ask ourselves these 4 questions:
a. What level am I on?
Have you ever tried to give someone direction that was lost? It's hard to help them if when you ask them "where are you now?" they reply "I don't know". In order to move from point A to B, we must determine where point A is, in relation to point B. Our first step requires an honest and objective appraisal of where we are. We don't want to be so protective of our self esteem that we make excuses and try to justify our postion "I think I'm where I'm supposed to be for me" or "I think I'm doing fine considering". We will never sail into our true destiny in God if we continue to stand on the shore of denial (excuse the terrible pun). Nor do we want to be overly critical and determine that we are either unable or undeserving of reaching a higher level in God.
b. What level do I desire?
Where in your wildess dreams do you see yourself at in God. If that place requires stages, determine what is the first stage and let's set that as our goal.
c. What is needed to achieve that level?
Will you next level require more training, maybe going back to school. Will you need a mentor that is operation on that level? Are there some interim postions that can become stepping stones to that level? What do you need to know, or do, or give up that will be the catylst for that next level?
d. What is required to maintain that level?
One thing we don't often consider is that once we achieve a new level in God, what is required to stay on that level. If you ever go from owning an ordinary car to a more expensive luxury car, you quickly realize that the operational and maintenance cost are much higher. If you purchase more house than you currently own it becomes apparent that you will have a corresponding cost of living increase. Once you achieve that next level you will need to have been prepared and empowered with the wherewithal to maintain it.
1. Evaluation
2. Visualization
3. Progression
4. Manifestation
Let me explain or describe the first step here:
1. Evaluation
On this step we need to ask ourselves these 4 questions:
a. What level am I on?
Have you ever tried to give someone direction that was lost? It's hard to help them if when you ask them "where are you now?" they reply "I don't know". In order to move from point A to B, we must determine where point A is, in relation to point B. Our first step requires an honest and objective appraisal of where we are. We don't want to be so protective of our self esteem that we make excuses and try to justify our postion "I think I'm where I'm supposed to be for me" or "I think I'm doing fine considering". We will never sail into our true destiny in God if we continue to stand on the shore of denial (excuse the terrible pun). Nor do we want to be overly critical and determine that we are either unable or undeserving of reaching a higher level in God.
b. What level do I desire?
Where in your wildess dreams do you see yourself at in God. If that place requires stages, determine what is the first stage and let's set that as our goal.
c. What is needed to achieve that level?
Will you next level require more training, maybe going back to school. Will you need a mentor that is operation on that level? Are there some interim postions that can become stepping stones to that level? What do you need to know, or do, or give up that will be the catylst for that next level?
d. What is required to maintain that level?
One thing we don't often consider is that once we achieve a new level in God, what is required to stay on that level. If you ever go from owning an ordinary car to a more expensive luxury car, you quickly realize that the operational and maintenance cost are much higher. If you purchase more house than you currently own it becomes apparent that you will have a corresponding cost of living increase. Once you achieve that next level you will need to have been prepared and empowered with the wherewithal to maintain it.
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Monday, October 05, 2009
And It Came To Pass
These can be some of the most soothing or distressing words we have ever heard. Soothing for those who have anticipated with hope for thwe promise of God to be fulfilled, yet distressing to those who have anxiously awaited God impending judgement. For me these are very refreshing words indeed. As I sit here today in my temporary desk chair in our new church building office, I'm filled with joy.
Last Monday we signed the lease on our first ever full-time and full-use facility. I'm waiting here today for the Natural Gas Company to come and turn on our service. We have already had the electricity and water turned on and I'm enjoying the wonderful air conditioning right now. Later this week we are having an Archetect come and draw up some plans of how we came best utilize the nearly 8,000 square feet of space we have appropriated for the Kingdom of God.
There is lots to do but we must be patient and ensure that we really put our best foot forward as we welcome the surrounding community to come, celebrate and experience God here with us. These are exciting times and we are rejoiceing in the words "And It Came To Pass".
Last Monday we signed the lease on our first ever full-time and full-use facility. I'm waiting here today for the Natural Gas Company to come and turn on our service. We have already had the electricity and water turned on and I'm enjoying the wonderful air conditioning right now. Later this week we are having an Archetect come and draw up some plans of how we came best utilize the nearly 8,000 square feet of space we have appropriated for the Kingdom of God.
There is lots to do but we must be patient and ensure that we really put our best foot forward as we welcome the surrounding community to come, celebrate and experience God here with us. These are exciting times and we are rejoiceing in the words "And It Came To Pass".
Monday, June 29, 2009
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